Charlotte and Angus Buchanan, a creative and entrepreneurial couple, purchased their home in Harlesden, London, in 2019. The garden was completely overgrown, but they saw its potential. Using their design skills, they transformed the unruly space into a navigable garden with an outdoor kitchen, dining area, and a rope swing. Recently, they hosted a barbecue for 14 of their friends in their beautiful garden. The guests enjoyed sitting on the couple’s signature striped Studio chairs, which have become a popular item from their design company.
Angus, the creative director, prepared delicious Padrón peppers on a custom Country Fire Kitchen grill while the guests arrived. The kitchen setup is professional-grade, as the couple’s design work in restaurants influenced their choices. Alongside their restaurant projects, Buchanan Studio also works on furniture, fabrics, and brand identity projects, as well as hosting extravagant events. Despite the stress that comes with these events, hosting a casual dinner party at home feels relatively easy for Charlotte and Angus.
The gathering was held to celebrate the summer season. While many Londoners leave the city during the summer, the Buchanans’ friends, who are also designers, have unpredictable work schedules. The couple is flexible with their guests’ arrival times and impromptu additions to the guest list. They always plan for more people than expected and have accommodations available for guests to stay overnight.
The guests at the barbecue included prominent figures in the design industry, such as Matilda Goad, Violet Dent, and Kirthanaa Naidu. The table was beautifully decorated with mismatched glass jugs filled with pink and peach English roses, which were picked up from Covent Garden’s flower market that morning. The tablecloth, designed by Buchanan Studio in collaboration with Dent, featured a pattern of pink blooms against charcoal stripes. Votives and bergamot-scented candles added a cozy touch. The napkins were made from the company’s linens, using scraps and samples mostly in a ruby and dusty pink version of their Studio Stripe print.
Charlotte, who is an excellent cook, prepared Middle Eastern-inspired dishes served family-style. Her Lebanese heritage influences her use of garlic, tahini, and pomegranate molasses in her cooking. She served grilled sliced eggplant with saffron yogurt, new potatoes tossed in herbs and olive oil, and a spiced pulled lamb shoulder that was slow-cooked for six hours and finished on the grill. For dessert, Kirthanaa Naidu brought a pandan Basque cheesecake with a unique green color.
The guests enjoyed a selection of drinks, including a spicy margarita and a non-alcoholic spritz called Arva. The bartender, wearing a stylish Buchanan Studio apron, recommended these options. The guests also had access to Della Vite prosecco, for which Buchanan Studio developed the brand identity.
Music played a central role in the evening, with Angus curating an ever-changing playlist. At some point during the night, guests were encouraged to connect to the Sonos speaker and take on the DJ role. This gave guests a sense of involvement and contributed to the relaxed atmosphere of the party.
The conversation flowed naturally throughout the evening. Dipal Acharya arrived early and had an opportunity to explore the neighborhood, even picking up cigarettes from a corner shop. The guests shared stories about emergency room visits, as many of them are parents to school-aged children.
One of the Buchanans’ entertaining tips is to move the party to different spaces throughout the night. This keeps the evening exciting and allows guests to experience different atmospheres. They often start with drinks in one area, move to sit by the fire if it’s winter, and then gather at the dinner table.
To end the article, the Buchanans shared their recipe for slow-cooked lamb. Charlotte explained that lamb is versatile and can be flavored in various ways. Their summer version includes garlic, anchovies, red wine, red wine vinegar, and an array of seasonings. The lamb is slow-cooked for several hours, wrapped tightly in aluminum foil to retain moisture. It can be kept warm until it’s ready to be served.
Overall, the Buchanans’ barbecue was a memorable evening filled with delicious food, drinks, and lively conversations. The couple’s creative touch was evident in the stunning garden and the thoughtful details throughout the event.
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